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Celebrating 35 years of making Medicare more accessible, affordable, and equitable!

Coverage and Benefits

Medicare provides health coverage to over 60 million older adults and people with disabilities, paying for important medical care in hospital and outpatient settings. Nearly 12.5 million beneficiaries also rely on Medicaid, which helps with affordability through the Medicare Savings Programs (MSPs), and covers services Medicare does not, such as long-term services and supports. The Medicare Rights Center supports strengthening Medicare and Medicaid, modernizing benefits and financial assistance, and bolstering the workers and caregivers who deliver this vital care.

Comments on the Conscience Proposed Rule

The Medicare Rights Center appreciates this opportunity to comment on the Safeguarding the Rights of Conscience as Protected by Federal Statutes proposed rule. We applaud this proposal by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to rescind the most damaging aspects of the 2019 final rule Protecting Statutory Conscience Rights in Health Care; Delegations of Authority.

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Medicare Coverage Gaps: Care Inside the Home and DME in the Community

Medicare does not cover most long-term services and supports (LTSS) or durable medical equipment for use outside of the home. While home health should be more widely available, beneficiaries often find coverage inaccessible because of information gaps and onerous requirements, and the benefit is not integrated into other care and supports that people need in their homes. This results in patchworks of coverage that are difficult to manage, confusing and inefficient.

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Medicare and Health Equity

Medicare eligibility translates into meaningful gains in health equity. But the COVID-19 pandemic in particular has demonstrated that racial, ethnic, gender, LGBTQ+ status, disability status, and income disparities in health outcomes and access to care remain.

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Filling Gaps in Medicare Coverage: Dental, Vision, and Hearing

Medicare does not cover many of the essential services that older adults and people with disabilities need in order to live healthy lives. In addition to the direct impacts in terms of beneficiary well-being, gaps in access to these services can bring on or worsen other health concerns. Furthermore, this lack of coverage puts Medicare out-of-step with most private insurance and Medicaid which reflect a more modern understanding of patient needs and the interconnected nature of the human body.

Read More »

Comments on the Conscience Proposed Rule

The Medicare Rights Center appreciates this opportunity to comment on the Safeguarding the Rights of Conscience as Protected by Federal Statutes proposed rule. We applaud this proposal by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to rescind the most damaging aspects of the 2019 final rule Protecting Statutory Conscience Rights in Health Care; Delegations of Authority.

Medicare Coverage Gaps: Care Inside the Home and DME in the Community

Medicare does not cover most long-term services and supports (LTSS) or durable medical equipment for use outside of the home. While home health should be more widely available, beneficiaries often find coverage inaccessible because of information gaps and onerous requirements, and the benefit is not integrated into other care and supports that people need in their homes. This results in patchworks of coverage that are difficult to manage, confusing and inefficient.

Medicare and Health Equity

Medicare eligibility translates into meaningful gains in health equity. But the COVID-19 pandemic in particular has demonstrated that racial, ethnic, gender, LGBTQ+ status, disability status, and income disparities in health outcomes and access to care remain.

Filling Gaps in Medicare Coverage: Dental, Vision, and Hearing

Medicare does not cover many of the essential services that older adults and people with disabilities need in order to live healthy lives. In addition to the direct impacts in terms of beneficiary well-being, gaps in access to these services can bring on or worsen other health concerns. Furthermore, this lack of coverage puts Medicare out-of-step with most private insurance and Medicaid which reflect a more modern understanding of patient needs and the interconnected nature of the human body.

CELEBRATING

YEARS

Join the anniversary celebration!

Let's continue making history

Help us honor 35 years of making Medicare more affordable, accessible, and equitable. Sign up to receive special alerts with ways to support our 35 years of service to older adults and people with disabilities. Learn more at www.medicarerights.org/35.